Ruto Appoints New Registrar of Political Parties

President William Ruto has appointed John Cox Lorionokou as the new Registrar of Political Parties for a six-year term.

The appointment was announced in a gazette notice dated October 2, 2025. According to the notice, Ruto exercised his powers under the Political Parties Act to confirm Lorionokou to the position.

Lorionokou will be in charge of overseeing the registration, regulation, and supervision of political parties in Kenya. His office is also responsible for managing coalition agreements, enforcing compliance with the Political Parties Act, and distributing the Political Parties Fund to eligible parties.

He takes over from Sophia Sitati, who had been serving as Acting Registrar since July 14, 2025, following the resignation of Anne Nderitu. Nderitu stepped down after being appointed as a commissioner with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Alongside Lorionokou, President Ruto also appointed Agatha Wanjiku Wahome as an Assistant Registrar of Political Parties, also for a six-year term. She will support the Registrar in managing political party affairs.

In the same gazette notice, the President named Claris Awuor Ongangah as the Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) for a six-year term. The KNCHR is an independent body that monitors government actions on human rights and promotes accountability.

Lorionokou’s appointment comes at a crucial time as political realignments begin to shape up ahead of the 2027 General Election.